From the moment of arrival in the Netherlands, asylum seekers and status holders face a variety of policies. The report ’With Policy Ahead’ examined the effects of reception, distribution and integration policies on the integration of Syrian status holders. Migration scholars from Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) collaborated on this report, which is a partnership between WODC, CBS, RIVM and EUR.
The majority of Syrian status holders have been in contact with the reception policy due to the asylum procedure and stay in an asylum seekers’ center. After permit issuance, the dispersal policy determines where status holders will live, and status holders are required to integrate. The study looked at Syrian status holders who were granted residence permits between 2014 and mid-2016. They were followed over the years and surveyed about their life in the Netherlands. Because this group could now be followed for 7 to 10 years, it is possible to see what long-term effects the implemented policy has had.
Migration scholars from Erasmus University Rotterdam Professor Jaco Dagevos & Dr. Wybren Nooitgedagt, investigated for this study the relationship between the reception and integration policies and the development of Dutch language proficiency. They also investigated the influence of experiences in the AZC and with the IND on the views of status holders on the social climate for migrants. Together with colleagues from the WODC, the EUR researchers were responsible for the chapter with conclusions and recommendations for policy. The main findings of the EUR research are:
Strongest increase in language level in first years of stay
The strongest improvement in language level occurs in the first years of stay in the Netherlands, after which it levels off. This period coincides with following civic integration: the greatest increase in language level occurs among people who are still in the process of civic integration. It indicates the importance of participating in language education. After completion, language acquisition of Dutch stagnates.
Longer stay in reception and more frequent moves are unfavorable for language acquisition
A longer length of stay in reception and more moves between reception locations are both related to lower language levels. The results suggest that these negative effects fade out over time, meaning that people largely succeed in eliminating the relative language arrears they have accumulated. However, eliminating this disadvantage is a process that takes years. An active reception period has a positive effect on the language level. This includes participating in activities at the reception (e.g. taking language classes) and doing (volunteer) work during the reception period.
Unfavorable experiences in reception and negative judgements on the IND influence how status holders perceive migrants’ opportunities in the Netherlands.
It was researched how Syrian status holders evaluate the social climate towards migrants. This was measured, among other things, by whether they think people with a migrant background have many opportunities, whether their rights are respected and whether people with a migrant background are often discriminated against. Those who are satisfied with their period in reception are more positive about the social climate for migrants than those who look back on their period in reception with great dissatisfaction. Experiences with the IND also have a knock-on effect on how the Netherlands is viewed: those who feel they were not treated well by the IND are more negative about the social climate in the Netherlands towards migrants.
Implications for policy
The research points to the importance of a good integration policy. Furthermore, the EUR researchers argue for short procedures, few removals and many opportunities to work and learn the language during the reception period. These recommendations are a far cry from recent Cabinet proposals on austere reception locations, which are not aimed at promoting asylum-seeker participation. Good and fair treatment during the reception period pays off in how status holders evaluate Dutch society.
About the research
The research project is a collaboration between Scientific Research and Data Center (WODC), Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), RIVM and Erasmus University Rotterdam.
The report With Policy Ahead," including the EUR contributions, and more information about the entire study can be found on the WODC website.